title: Morphology and histology of the adult Paramphistomum gracile Fischoeder, 1901.
abstract: In the present study, we evaluated the histological morphology of the adult Paramphistomum (P.) gracile. Adult flukes with bodies 5~15 mm in length and 2~7 mm in width were subjected to histological analysis. Longitudinal and transversal serial-sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and examined. The body surface and longitudinal section of P. gracile were also assessed using scanning electron microscopy. In this species, the anterior sucker and posterior sucker (acetabulum) were present on an anterior and posterior part of the body, respectively. The major folds were located in the areas of the anterior sucker, genital canal, and posterior sucker. The fluke membrane was spineless at the tegument surface and in the tegument tissue. Histological data showed structural-systematic characteristics of the digestive tract, reproductive tract, excretory tract, copulatory organs, connective tissues, and muscle tissues. We attempted to elucidate the histological characteristics of P. gracile that might increase the knowledge and understanding of rumen fluke morphology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok 10110, Thailand.
authors.forename: Busaba
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Panyarachun
authors.forename: Arin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ngamniyom
authors.forename: Prasert
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sobhon
authors.forename: Panat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anuracpreeda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000662:veterinary; D012417:Rumen / Q000469:parasitology; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013785:Thailand; D014200:Trematoda / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Paramphistomum gracile; histology; light microscopy; morphology; scanning electron microscopy